From the moment the San Francisco 49ers used the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL draft on him, defensive end Nick Bosa has been one of the franchise's most important players.
In the more than four years since, the only thing that's changed is that Bosa has somehow managed to become even more important to the Niners' success. Any remaining doubt about just how much Bosa means to the 49ers vanished Wednesday, when he agreed to a five-year, $170 million contract that includes $122.5 million in guarantees, sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter. The deal makes Bosa the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Getting Bosa back in the fold following a 43-day holdout that lasted longer than many expected was imperative for the 2023 49ers. Bosa is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and there's a strong argument that he's the player the Niners can least afford to lose. With Bosa, the Niners' Super Bowl aspirations are legitimate. Without him, well, it's far more difficult to envision.
Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted on Aug. 30 he thought Bosa would be back with the team by the end of the preseason, but it took until a few days prior to San Francisco's regular-season opener against the Steelers for the two sides to finally strike an agreement.
Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday that he is not sure how much Bosa will be able to play during Sunday's game.
San Francisco begins its 2023 NFL season at the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.
Bosa is set to make $34 million per year, besting the average salary of Los Angeles Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who earns an average of $31,666,667 per season, according to sports salary tracking website Spotrac.
Bosa’s contract is ninth richest overall for total value. The top eight deals all belong to quarterbacks.
Bosa’s importance to the 49ers can’t be overstated. Last season saw the former Ohio State star rack up 48 quarterback hits, 19 tackles for loss and 18.5 sacks. Not a single returning member of the 49ers outside of Bosa had more than three sacks a season ago. Again, his importance has been on display during the star’s four-year in run in Santa Clara.
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